"Harry, Hermione, and Ron, come with me," said Professor McGonagall.  "Hello, are you two new students?" she asked, looking at Sydney and Gwen.

"Yes, we are.  We're from the United States," Gwen said.

"Welcome to Hogwarts.  You stay with the first years, the three of you, come with me."

Harry, Hermione and Ron followed McGonagall through the front doors of the castle.  Soon, all the returning students arrived and walked into the castle, past the first years and took their seats at their table.

"So we just wait?" Gwen whispered to Sydney.

"I guess so," Sydney answered.

"I don't think we're the only new students here," Gwen said as she looked around.

"Well, duh! Have you seen all these first years?"

"I'm not talking about first years," Gwen said smacking Sydney on the back of her head.

"Ow! That was uncalled for."

"I was talking about exchange students," Gwen continued, ignoring Sydney's cries of pain.

Professor McGonagall walked out the doors and the students all gave her their attention.

"In a moment, we will pass through these doors into the Great Hall.  Before we sit down to the feast, you will all be sorted into you houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.  Please follow me."

Gwen gave Sydney a look and whispered, "Well, here goes nothing."  Sydney was just fidgeting with the sleeve of her robe.

Sydney caught Harry's eyes as they walked by the Gryffindor table.  She looked down shyly and smiled, mostly to herself.  Professor McGonagall took out a long list and unrolled it.

"I will call you up one by one and place the sorting hat on your head."

            The Sorting Hat wiggled and began to sing.

You may look at me and say:
"Look at that old worn hat."
But here is what I have to say to that.


I know I am not the prettiest,
Far from as you can see,
But I am the Sorting Hat,
And old and worn is me.

For I tell you where you must go.
There are four grand houses here.
And you will enter one with a cheer.

Listen now to figure out where you belong;
But I am the one who must make the choice,
So now listen closely to my voice.

I will start with Hufflepuff,
The shyest of all four.
But don't be fooled,

Loyalty is where these kind ones roar.

Ravenclaws are the thinkers of the bunch,
Always studious and ingenious,
They would never go on a hunch.

On to Slytherin, that sly group,
clever and powerful,
they can put any one minds in a loop

Last but not least there is Gryffindor,
The courageous and brave of folk,
No one considers them a bore.

These are our houses,
Each good for its own,
You do not pick your house,
I do, so come put me on

Because you don't have a clue!

The students applauded and Professor McGonagall raised the scroll.

"Charles Allen," she called.  A blonde haired boy with squinty eyes walked nervously up to the stool and sat down.  Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head.  Moments later, the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered.  Professor McGonagall went through the list as the group standing at the front of the hall began to shrink.

"Sydney Hsuan," Professor McGonagall said.  Sydney gasped quietly and made her way through the crowd.  She sat down and waited for her fait to be decided.

"Ahh…an American student.  A loyal friend with a thirst for adventure," the Sorting Hat whispered.

"Not Hufflepuff," whispered Sydney.

"And why not?" the hat asked.

"You might enjoy it there, but if you're sure…GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally shouted.  The Gryffindor table erupted in cheering.  Harry, Hermione, and Ron even stood up.

Sydney let out a sigh of relief and practically bounced over to the Gryffindor table because she was so happy.  She sat down next to Harry with a huge smile on her face.  After several congratulations, Sydney turned to Gwen who air-high-fived her and anxiously waited for her friend to be sorted.  More people were sorted until Sydney began nodding off.

"Gwen Murphy," Professor McGonagall said.  Gwen walked up and sat down onto the stool.

"This is truly a tough choice. You are too sly and conniving to be in Hufflepuff," Gwen sighed, she didn't know whether to be insulted or happy about that comment. "Hmm, this is a tough one," the hat continued. "Oh, you would soar in Ravenclaw, but you are too much of a risk taker. Well, that takes it down to, the last two, doesn't it? Hmm…" The rest of the students in the hall were now shifting uneasily and Professor McGonagall anxiously checked her watch. "Hmph, in all my years very few students have ever stumped me like this. Slytherin is full of people like you, power hungry and manipulative but then again you wouldn't actually use these things against those you love and are extremely brave." Gwen was surprised to hear that and held her breath while waiting for

The hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"  Gwen stood up and walked towards the Gryffindor table accompanied by the same reaction that Sydney had received.  Gwen sat down next to Sydney.  The rest of the sorting finished.

            "Welcome to Gryffindor!" Hermione exclaimed to Gwen and Sydney but before she could say more Professor Dumbledore stood up and politely tapped on his glass. The hall instantly became silent.

            "Welcome back to another wonderful year!" the headmaster exclaimed. "Before we enjoy this meal, I have a few things to say, as I always do. First the usual warning about the forest; don't go there. And now I am sure all of you heard about the mishap with the train. We do not know what happened. The carriages must have never left. This is under investigation but do not fear you we will figure it out. Oh and I would like to welcome the new students. We have many pupils here from around the world and hopefully you will use this as a learning experience. Now let the feasting begin!" He ended with a flick of his wand and all the platters on the tables filled with food.

            "Wow." Sydney said under her breath.

            "Didn't they say the food here was going to be bad? It smells fine to me!" Gwen said quietly into her friend's ear. Both girls filled their plates as soon as they saw the other students do the same. Since, no one was in the talking mood after either walking to the school grounds or just being held up with the first years, Gwen and Sydney took the chance to study the hall and the people around them. The enchanted ceiling and the different house's tables amazed them but it was mostly their fellow students. Amazed them.  Gwen tried to be stealth in looking for Draco among the Slytherin table but Sydney caught her. "You do love him, too bad he's evil, eh?"

            "Maybe he isn't," Gwen mumbled to herself as she took one last glance at him.

            "What was that?" Sydney asked.

            "Nothing. Oh look the food is disappearing!" With that, everyone got up from their seats and began to walk to there dormitories. Sydney didn't want to go to sleep, she was too anxious to explore. Gwen was anxious to go to sleep, because the sooner she did, the sooner it would be tomorrow.